Just inside the door, a menu written on a white board provided even more to get guests' mouths watering: ham, chicken, stuffing, three potato dishes, five types of vegetables and eight different desserts.

All the food was prepared by volunteers as part of a church tradition that was started five years ago by Chris Noyes and his wife, Crista.

The couple said serving the community was more important to them than having a traditional family thanksgiving dinner.

"Today is just that day that we don't want anybody to go hungry or alone," Chris said.

Other volunteers said they felt the same way.

"There are so many people that don't have what we have," said Raye Bowman, 45, of Boonsboro, who spent hours peeling sweet potatoes in preparation for the dinner, then stayed to help dish out food and clear dishes.

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Guests at the dinner said they appreciated the meal.

"It was excellent," said Kacie Collins, 18, of Boonsboro, who said she liked the deep fried turkey the best.

Collins said she and her mother came to the dinner because they didn't have any family close by and wanted to be around other people for Thanksgiving.